SB 114 — An Act amending the act of June 9, 1997 (P.L.169, No.14), known as the Nurse Aide Resident Abuse Prevention Training Act, providing for a study on nurse aide training and oversight; and imposing duties on the Joint State Government Commission.

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1141996 2025THE INTRODUCEDGENERAL BYASSEMBLY ARGALL,OF BROOKS,PENNSYLVANIA BOSCOLA,SENATE PENNYCUICK,BILL LAUGHLIN,Session J.of No.

WARD,114 CULVER, BROWN, COSTA, MASTRIANO, GEBHARD, PHILLIPS- HILL, HUTCHINSON AND SCHWANK, JANUARY 22, 2025 REFERREDINTJ. TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 22, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of June 9, 1997 (P.L.169, No.14), entitled "An act providing for Statewide nurse aide training programs relating to nursing facilities," providing for training for long-term care, for criteria for nurse aides and for limitation on department.

TheWARD, GeneralCULVER, AssemblyBROWN, ofCOSTA, MASTRIANO, GEBHARD, PHILLIPS- HILL, HUTCHINSON, SCHWANK, ROBINSON, DUSH, FARRY AND COLLETT, JANUARY 22, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 AN ACT Amending the Commonwealthact of PennsylvaniaJune hereby9, enacts1997 as(P.L.169, follows:No.14), entitled "An act providing for Statewide nurse aide training programs relating to nursing facilities," providing for training for <-- long-term care, for criteria for nurse aides and for limitation on department.

A STUDY ON NURSE AIDE TRAINING AND <-- COMMISSION.AND IMPOSING DUTIES ON THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

The act of June 9, 1997 (P.L.169, No.14), known <-- as the Nurse Aide Resident Abuse Prevention Training Act, is amended by adding sections to read:

(a) Competency examination.--In order to become a nurse aide in this Commonwealth, an individual must:must do one of the following:

20250SB0114PN1996 - 2 - (i) a written portion that may be taken, at the option of the individual, in person or remotely over the Internet;

and (ii) a skills-demonstrated portion approved by the 20250SB0114PN0065 - 2 - department and administered at a site and instructor approved by the department.

(ii) is standardized and scored by a testing, educational or other organization approved by the 20250SB0114PN1996 - 3 - department;

The department may not impose on a provider of a State- 20250SB0114PN0065 - 3 - approved nurse aide program a waiting period between approval of the training program and the offering of any portion of the training online as authorized under section 9.

20250SB0114PN0065SECTION -1. 4 -

THE ACT OF JUNE 9, 1997 (P.L.169, NO.14), KNOWN <-- AS THE NURSE AIDE RESIDENT ABUSE PREVENTION TRAINING ACT, IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:

SECTION 3.1.

STUDY ON NURSE AIDE TRAINING AND OVERSIGHT.

(A) DUTY.--THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES, SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING:

(1) THE STUDY SHALL ANALYZE AND EVALUATE:

(I) ALL NURSE AIDE TRAINING PROGRAMS CURRENTLY OFFERED IN THIS COMMONWEALTH, INCLUDING EACH PROGRAM'S LENGTH, EFFECTIVENESS, COST, AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND MANNER OF EXAMINATION OR EVALUATION OF COMPETENCY.

(II) THE AVERAGE TIMELINE FOR TRAINING FACILITY APPLICATIONS TO BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF REVISION REQUESTS AND AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FOR REQUESTS.

20250SB0114PN1996 - 4 - (III) NURSE AIDE TRAINING PROGRAMS USED IN OTHER STATES AND HOW THE CURRICULUM, TRAINER QUALIFICATIONS AND METHOD OF DELIVERY COMPARE TO THIS COMMONWEALTH'S CURRENT TRAINING PROGRAMS.

(IV) THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN THE CURRENT NURSE AIDE TESTING AND TRAINING SYSTEM, MAINTENANCE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH'S NURSE AIDE REGISTRY AND OVERSIGHT OF THIRD-PARTY EVALUATORS.

(V) WHERE AND HOW NURSE AIDES ARE EMPLOYED AND NURSE AIDES' SCOPE OF DUTIES BROKEN DOWN BY TYPE OF FACILITY.

(2) THE STUDY SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO:

(I) WAYS IN WHICH TRAINING, EVALUATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NURSE AIDES COULD BE IMPROVED AND STREAMLINED IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

(II) CHANGES TO THE MODEL, DELIVERY OR IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAINING TO IMPROVE ACCESS, ELIMINATE BARRIERS AND INCREASE THE NURSE AIDE WORKFORCE.

(III) THE MOST APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY OVERSIGHT OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING CURRICULUM CRITERIA, REGISTRY, EXAMINATION AND REGULATORY OVERSIGHT.

(IV) WAYS TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS FOR PROSPECTIVE NURSE AIDES.

(B) REPORT.--THE JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION SHALL COMPILE AND REPORT ITS FINDINGS NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION TO THE FOLLOWING:

(1) THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.

(2) THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH.

(3) THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES.

(4) THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

20250SB0114PN1996 - 5 - (5) THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE AGING AND YOUTH COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.

(6) THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(7) THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.

(8) THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(9) THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.

(10) THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(11) THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.